The Rotary Club of Suna Migori in partnership with Rotary International has sponsored a training course of 100 young women in Migori County in an effort to empower them economically.
The women, selected from all the eight constituencies within the county, will go through a rigorous one-year training in various courses under an initiative dubbed ‘women empowerment’ programme worth over Sh7 million.
Suna-Migori Rotary Club President Lawrence Otieno says that the Certificate and Diploma Courses in Food and Beverage production and sales, Artisanal dress making and fashion design, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, catering services, Salon management and ICT among other courses will be conducted by the Migori Institute of Beauty and Professional Studies college situated within Migori town centre.
According to Mr Otieno, Rotary International donated funds for the purchase of some of the training equipment and tuition fees for the sponsored students as well as money to cater for their upkeep
“While Suna-Migori Rotary Club was tasked to ensure that the trainings are implemented as specified in the proposals made for the programme and, equipment was delivered to the institute as per the specification of the machines and tools,” said the President moments after touring the college this morning.
The one day tour of the institution by the Rotary team led by the President and accompanied by the press, revealed serious work at the college with visibly enthusiastic students undergoing their lessons within their various course rooms.
Mary Anyango, a sponsored student from Nyaike Constituency and who has been in the training room for two weeks only, happily displayed to the sponsors a beautiful ‘Kenya-African’ design Shirt she was able to make within that short period of time.
But it was from the bakery and catering classes that the team was impressed most after getting a taste of the cakes and other mouthwatering samosas the students had prepared as part of their practical learnings.
College Director Edward Kabaka showed the team the expensive machines bought by the Rotary money and explained that trainings had started in good time and most of the students were doing well in their courses.
“All the electric sewing machines, heavy bakery equipment and beauty therapy tools had been procured and delivered in time to offer the trainees value for their money,” he said.
Mr Kabaka said the programme came at the right time that young women in Migori needed to be empowered with skills that can allow them to do small jobs that are able to earn them good income in the wake of serious lack of white color jobs.
“Office jobs are no longer easily available and the way to go is to train our children and especially girls on artisanal courses that can make them self-employed in their local abodes,” added the official.
By George Agimba
